Moving stairway



y 9 A. E. HANDY ET AL 2,282,050

' MOVING STAIRWAY 5 Filed July 26, 1941 I Ilf e p g E i Z NVENTORS I I V I I I run, Ah'oRNEY Patented May 5, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOVING STAIRWAY ration of New Jersey Application July 26, 1941, Serial No. 404,106

Claims.

The invention relates to protective devices for moving stairways.

In moving Stairways, the steps after reaching the end of their trip are returned beneath the incline to the starting point where they emerge and start again on their trip. The stairways are arranged so that the steps are in platform formation as they emerge and the transition to the incline takes place gradually. With present day cleat type steps which mesh with combs at the ends of the Stairways, the step treads for safety reasons are constructed so that there is a very small clearance between them. Thus, a passenger upon stepping onto the stairway may place his feet so that one or both span two adjacent steps and unless he corrects this by the time that the steps break into step formation, he may become startled and have to hurriedly correct their position as the transition to the incline takes place.

The object of the invention is to provide emphatic difierentiation between steps at the entering end of the stairway to enable passengers more readily to position themselves properly on the step treads.

The invention involves differentiating between steps at the entrance of the stairway by projecting light from below through the spaces between the steps. In carrying out the invention in accordance with the arrangement which will be described, one or more lamps are mounted beneath the steps at the entrance to the stairway and positioned so as to provide continuous illumination of the space between steps from the time of their emergence and until they have started their transition to step formation. Also a row of apertures may be provided along the front and rear of each step through which the light from the lamps passes to further differentiate between steps.

Features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation in longitudinal section of a moving stairway embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmental view in section of the lower end of the stairway shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmental detail in plan of a portion of the treads of adjacent steps illustrating rows of apertures paralleling the edges of the steps.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the moving stairway extends between a lower landing l0 and an and start up the incline.

' the truss 22.

upper landing II. It comprises an endless series of steps l2 connected together by running gear chains I3 driven through sprocket wheels [4 by a motor (not shown), preferably at the upper landing. The steps are supported on wheels I l and I8 which run on tracks and 2| supported on stairway framework in the form of a truss 22. Above the steps on each side of the stairway is the balustrade 23. The inner side of each balustrade is in the form of a plate extending from the skirt board 26 to the handrail 21. At the ends of the stairway the handrail extends around newel wheels and enters and leaves the ends of the balustrade on the horizontal underneath the newels.

The stairway is illustrated as of the type in which combplates 3B and 3! are provided at the ends of the stairway. In this construction the step treads are provided with cleats 28 which mesh with the teeth of the combplates. The operating clearance provided between the adjacent edges of each pair of steps forms a slit 32 while the steps are in platform formation. Assuming an upwardly moving stairway, to emphazsize the line of demarcation between the steps,

one or more electric lamps are provided beneath the steps at the lower end of the stairway in position to project light through the spaces between the steps as the steps emerge from the combplate While incandescent lamps may be utilized, tubular lamps such as the filament type or fluorescent lamps are preferred. In the arrangement illustrated, a single fluorescent lamp 33 is provided at the lower end of the stairway and extends along the'longitudinal center line thereof. The lamp is located between the upper and lower runs of the stairway in position to clear the steps and extends from beneath the combplate to beneath the forward end of a step which has started its transition to the incline. The lampholder brackets 34 are mounted on a plate 35 extending beneath the lamp and supported on cross members 36 secured to the track brackets 31 and structural members 38 of A reflector 39 is preferably provided for the lamp to facilitate the desired distribution of light. This arrangement insures continuous illumination of the spaces between steps as they emerge from beneath the combplate and start up the incline. The number of lamps employed depends upon the width of the stairway and the requirements of the particular installation. A single lamp arrangement such as above described is considered satisfactory for narrow stairways. A slight falling ad of intensity of illumination at the sides of the step is not regarded as objectionable as passengers step onto the steps midway between the sides of the stairway.

In case the stairway moves downwardly the entering end of the stairway is at the upper landing and provision is made for illumination of the spaces between steps at that point. For convenience, the stairway shown in Figure 1 is also illustrated as provided with illumination for these spaces at the upper landing. This arrangement is similar to that described for the lower landing. A longitudinally extending fluorescent lamp 40 is provided intermediate the sides of the stairway at the upper end thereof. It is located between the upper and lower run in position to clear the steps and extends over suflicient distance to illuminate the space between step treads from the time the steps emerge from the combplate until they have started their transition to the incline. The lamp holder brackets 4| are mounted on a plate 42 in turn supported on cross members 43 secured to structural members 44 of the truss. A reflector (not shown) is preferably provided for the lamp. Here again, the number of lamps employed depends upon the width of the stairway and the requirements of the particular installation. In the case of reversible moving stairways, the spaces between the steps at both ends of the stairway may be illuminated. If desired, the lamps may be controlled so that only the spaces between steps at the entering end of the stairway are illuminated.

Thus, with stairways arranged in accordance with the invention it is easy for the entering passengers to properly position their feet on the steps. Although described as applied to a stair- Way in which the steps are provided with cleats for meshing with combplates at the ends of the stairway, the invention may also be applied to other types such as the shunt type with flat step treads. It is to be understood that various arrangements may be utilized for illuminating the spaces between steps. The illumination of the spaces between steps may be supplemented by providing a plurality of apertures 46 in the steps along both the front and back edges thereof, as illustrated in Figure 3, through which the light may also pass. These apertures are of small enough diameter to prevent the insertion of articles such as umbrella tips therein. Light of a distinctive color may be employed, such as by fluorescent lamps emitting green light. The lamps may be arranged crosswise of the stairway instead of lengthwise and suitably spaced to provide the illumination desired. Many variations may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention so long as the line of demarcation between steps at the entering end of the stairway is luminously indicated. Therefore, all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A moving stairway comprising, an endless series of steps extending between an upper and lower landing, a plurality of apertures in each step along the space between it and the adjacent step when the steps are in platform formation, and means for projecting light from below through said spaces between steps and through said apertures in said steps at the entrance end of the stairway.

2. A moving stairway comprising, an endless series of steps extending between an upper and lower landing, said steps having operating clearance between their adjacent edges, lighting means, and means for mounting said lighting means beneath the steps at the entrance end of the stairway in position to illuminate the spaces between adjacent edges of the steps while they are in platform formation and at least until they start their transition to step formation.

3. A moving stairway comprising, an endless series of steps extending between an upper and lower landing, each step being constructed so. as to provide operating clearance thereby forming slits between adjacent edges of the steps in platform formation, fluorescent lighting means, and means for mounting said lighting means beneath the steps at the entrance end of the stairway in position to illuminate said slits while the steps are in platform formation from the time of their emergence and until they are definitely out of platform formation in their transiend of the stairway to illuminate said slits, said lamp being of a length and positioned so as to provide such illumination from the time of emergence of the steps until they are in their transition to the incline of the stairway.

5. A moving stairway comprising, an endless series of steps extending between an upper and lower landing, each step being constructed so as to provide operating clearance thereby forming slits between adjacent edges of the steps in platform formation, a row of apertures along the front and back edges of each step, a tubular fluorescent lamp, a reflector for said lamp c0- extensive therewith, and means for mounting said lamp longitudinally of the stairway beneath the steps at the entrance end of the stairway so as to be clear of the steps in their movement and to illuminate said slits and apertures, said lamp being of a length and positioned so as to provide such illumination from the time of emergence of the steps until they are in their transition to the incline of the stairway.

ARTHUR EDWARD HANDY CARL JOHN KROEPEL. 

